Anatomical characteristics and [dry matter] digestibility of leaves of Panicum and other grass genera with C3 and different types of C4 photosynthetic pathway
1989
Wilson, J.R. (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, St Lucia (Australia). Div. of Tropical Crops and Pastures) | Hattersley, P.W. (Australian National Univ., Canberra. Research School of Biological Sciences)
In the 12 Panicum species and 12 species from other grass genera tested, leaves grown outdoors were smaller and had higher specific leaf weight than those from the glasshouse, but leaves from the 2 environments did not differ in anatomical characteristics or dry matter digestibility (DMD). Anatomical differences between the leaf structural groups were consistently expressed, and these are compared and discussed. The C3 group, with the notable exception of Panicum rivulare, generally had a lower cell wall content (37-49 percent) and higher DMD (67-74 percent) than the C4 groups (49-67 percent and 53-67 percent respectively). The quantitatively anatomical differences between C3 and C4 grasses accounted for a significant part of the generally higher DMD of C3 grasses (but exceptions can occur).
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